A target of complete renewable energy use by the year 2030 will be promoted across the region, say advocates.
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We are now taking this to Bega to see what Bega thinks about the target.
- Clean Energy for Eternity's Mathew Nott
Clean Energy for Eternity's Mathew Nott said a unanimous vote from around 250 people at a public meeting on February 19 for the town to adopt the target will see the concept move across the region.
Tathra now joins Yackandandah, Byron Shire, Hepburn Shire and Tyalgum in pushing to become the first community in Australia to be fully renewable powered.
"What we are trying to achieve is achievable and affordable and of economic benefit to the region," the organisation's founder Matthew Nott said this week.
"We are trying to put ourselves into a position of leadership, and we are acting because their is a void."
Program development manager at the Climate Council’s Cities Power Partnership Tracie Armstrong praised the Tathra community's commitment to clean energy transition.
“Communities like Tathra are leading the way in Australia’s clean energy transformation,” Ms Armstrong said.
“The decision of the Tathra community to increase the pace of its renewable energy transition recognises the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to slam the brakes on climate change.”
“We don’t have time to waste, and it’s small, regional communities such as Tathra that are already feeling the impacts of climate change.
"That’s why it’s so great to see them rolling up their sleeves to tackle climate change head on.”
Mr Nott said a meeting in Bega on March 19 will discuss everything from the number of tradespeople needed, the impact on home power bills and the potential cost of the 2030 target being adopted across the local government area.
"We are now taking this to Bega to see what Bega thinks about the target," Mr Nott said.
"We are inviting everyone who is interested and there are some more difficult questions we will tackle at the meeting.
"It is not a political forum, this is about our community getting together to show our politicians what we want."
Mr Nott said meetings are also being planned for Wyndham and Merimbula before the target is put to Bega Valley Shire Council who is a member of the Cities Power Partnership.
With ABC television's Four Corners program covering the Tathra meeting, Mr Nott hopes its airing in two weeks will put the target on the national agenda.
Mr Nott said the group will begin with a technical assessment before developing renewable energy and storage infrastructure on a local level.
The creation of a Community Renewable Energy Corporation, with residents and businesses able to invest, will aid the development of larger scale infrastructure.
"When the dust settles after the federal election we'll sit down with three levels of government and work together," Mr Nott said.